Rotary stirrer and liquid dispensing valve



April 29, 1952 GRUBELlc 2,594,768

\ ROTARY STIRRER AND LIQUID DISPENSING VALVE Filed July 21, 1945 2 SHEET$SHEET l ATTORNEY A ril 29, 1952 N. GRUBELIC ROTARY STIRRER AND LIQUID DISPENSING VALVE Filed July 21. 1945 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 s I" WWW l'z I m lul i Jhm Z? rae/ic I ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 29, 1952 ROTARY STIRRER AND LIQUID DISPENSING VALVE Nicholas Grubelic, East Farmingdale, N. Y., as-

signor of thirty-three and one-third per cent to Israel Kushner, Great Neck, N. Y.

Application July 21, 1945, Serial N 0. 606,353

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a rotary stirrer and liquid dispensing valve. It is particularly directed to a dispensing head for a liquid receptacle such as a can of paint.

An object of this invention is to provide a dispensing head which may be applied to a usual paint can and provided with a valve to permit paint to be dispensed from the can and to admit air into the can.

A further object of this invention is to provide a dispensing head of the character described provided with means for stirring the paint within said can.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a dispensing head of the character described which shall be easy to apply to a can, and easy to remove therefrom, and which shall yet be practical and efficient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplifled in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing in which is shown one of the various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a dispensing head embodying the invention applied to a can or receptacle and mounted on-a support;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged bottom plan View of the container valve;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of a container similar to Fig. l but illustrating a modified construction;

Fig. 5 is an end view of the structure shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line -6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a front elevational view of a dispensing head and can embodying the invention and illustrating another modification of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 88 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 8a is a cross-sectional view taken on line 8a8a of Fig. '7;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 7 and illustrating yet another modified form of dispensing head; and

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on line Ill- Ill of Fig. 9.

stirrer as shown in the drawing. Said device Ill comprises more specifically, a can H such as a paint can, having a bottom wall I2, a cylindrical wall l3, and a. conical shoulder l4 provided with an externally screw threaded neck IS. The open can cap I! replaces the usual sealing cap of the paint can and supports a dispensing valve for said can. The cap H has an internally screw threaded skirt Ila and a top wall Ill). The skirt Ila is screwed to the neck of the can. Wall l'lb is provided with an outwardly extending cylindrical flange llc formed with an internal through opening 18.

Rotatably and slidably received in opening I8 is a valve spindle 20. Said valve spindle 2G is provided with an enlarged head 2| having an annular flange 22 adapted to contact the outer edge of flange llc, to seat said spindle on the cap and cut off flow of paint from the can. The valve spindle 20 is formed with a pair of opposed longitudinal slots 24 and 25. The slot 24 is shorter than slot 25 and terminals a greater distance from collar or flange 22. The slot 25 is in a lowermost position when paint is to be dispensed from the container. The outer edge 26 of slot 25 is preferably inclined as shown in Fig. 3, whereby as the valve spindle 2B is pulled outwardly and axially away from cap H, the outermost corner of slot 25 is first arranged in the space between the collar 22 and flange lie to permit a thin trickle of paint to be discharged from the container through the thus exposed outermost corner at the extreme end of said slot. The stream of paint may be increased by pulling the spindle out, thereby to expose more of the inclined edge 26 to increase the resultant effective valve opening.

As the valve spindle 20 is sufficiently pulled out, the outer endof the air inlet 24 becomes exposed beyond flange llc to permit air to enter the interior of the paint and thereby accelerate the flow of paint.

If the paint container is not opened for some time, evaporation of volatile ingredients within the can or container is frequently suificient to cause the accummulation therein of gases under pressure. If what is known as synthetic paint is used, it is desirable that the accummulated gases be retained within the can and not be replaced with air because air within the can permits the formation of an undesirable scum or skin on the paint surface. By making the slot 25 on the valve longer than the slot 24, it becomes possible to permit. the pressure of the gases within the can to become gradually equalized with the outer air without loss of such gases. After the pressure is equalized, the valve may be opened further to admit air and to discharge a paint stream of the desired size and velocity.

The flange or collar 22 prevents an undesirable splashing of paint under the pressure of gases within the can and aids in directing the paint stream vertically downwardly. A valve cap 28 is screwed to the end of valve spindle 29 and is shaped to provide space 29 for packing material, whereby the v ve cap cooperates with the spindle to form a stu g box for a stirrer 30. The stirrer 39 comprises a rod which passes through registering openings in valve spindle and cap 28. On the stirrer 30 are blades 31 for stirring the paint within the can. The stirrer 39 may be slidably moved relative to the valve spindle 29 and stufing box or cap 28. At the outer end of the stirrer 1s a kerf 3! to permit insertion of a tool to permit rotation of the stirrer. The blades 3| are preferably angularly as well as longitudinally offset from one another.

Means is provided for insuring that the slot 25 is lowermost when paint is to be dispensed from the can or container. Said means includes the wings 34 and 35 extending from the spindle head 2! in opposite directions and provided with finger pieces by means of which the spindle may be rotated. The head 2! of the spindle is extended to form a pair of outwardly beveled cam surfaces 36 and 31, respectively, adjacent the wings 34 and 35 and adapted to engage the respective pins 33 and 39 to lock the spindle in its closed position (see Fig. 2). Said pins project toward each other from outstanding lugs 49 and 4| integrally formed with cap ll.

It will now be understood that as the spindle is rotated by means of the wings 34, 35, to force the beveled surface 36, 31 beneath the pins 33, 39, the spindle is forced toward its sealing position with the collar 22 pressed against the end of flange I7c.

At the sides of cap H are provided projections 48 and 49, each terminating in a downwardly and inwardly inclined edge 58. Said projections are designed to be inserted into respective grooves 52 and 53 in a can holder 54, the outer edge of each of the grooves being inclined in the same direction as the edge 59 of the projections. Consequently, when said projections are inserted into the grooves, the spindle is in a predetermined position since the position is controlled by the positions of the Wings 34, 35 and the positions of the wings are in turn controlled by the cams 35 and 31 and the pins 38 and 39. In order that the valve spindle may be moved outwardly to open the valve, the spindle is first rotated to carry the slot 25 to the lowermost part of the spindle. That is the spindle must be rotated in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2 to release the cams 36, 31 from the pins 38, 39, the cams being wide enough to prevent axial movement of the spindle until after the required amount of movement is completed, wherefor the spindle may be pulled upwardly to expose as much of the slot 25 as is required to produce a stream of paint of the desired size.

To permit the can to be tilted while held in the holder 54 such holder is adjustably mounted while held in the fixed holder 55 secured to a support or frame 56. As shown, holder 56 may be formed with a slot 51', and on rod 55 is a pin 4 58 projecting into said slot whereby to lixriit rotation of the holder 54 relative to the rod.

It will be noted that the cap ll, the valve spindle 20, and the parts connected thereto including the stirrer spindle 39 may be handled as a unit and successively applied to and removed from various paint cans quickly and easily. The usual sealing cap of the can is removed and the entire valve unit and stirrer applied to the paint can, by inserting the stirrer blades and spindle within the can and then screwing the cap ll into place, the spindle being locked in sealing position by insertion of the cams 36, 31 underneath the pins 38, 39 by rotating the wings.

Referring to Figs. 4, 5 and 6 there is shown a dispensing head or combined stirrer and valve wherein the valve part is somewhat easier to operate than the valve hereinbefore described and yet the advantages are retained. In this form of valve, the valve can cap Fla is provided with an arcuate air inlet opening 240, and with a longer arcuate paint discharge opening 25a having an inclined or non-radial edge 25a. The stirrer shaft 39a passes through the central threaded extension of the cap as well as through the nut 280. which is screwed onto the threaded extension to form a stuffing box 2911. A spring 60 around the extension presses the rotary valve cover 6! against the cap normally to maintain the valve openings closed. The cover BI is rotated by a handle 62 projecting therefrom, first to expose a part of the inclined edge 26a and to permit the discharge of a thin trickle of paint, and then to expose the air inlet and enough of the discharge opening to dispense the desired amount of paint without a waste of time. A beveled extension 63 on the cover brings the paint stream downwardly and guards against splashing.

In Figs. '7, 8 and 8a there is shown a can 10 and a dispensing head H embodying another form of the invention, applied thereto. The can 10 has a bottom rim I2 and is formed with an inwardly extending flange 13 at its open end. The head II comprises an annular cylindrical flange l5 fitting within flange 13. Extending from the cylindrical flange 15 is an annular wall 16 contacting the outer surface of the rim or flange l3.

Extending upwardly from wall 16 is a hollow portion TI comprising fiat side walls 18, a curved bottom wall 19, and a part conical top wall 90. At the outer end of the hollow portion 11 is a wall 8| formed with a top boss 82 and a bottom boss 83. The top boss 82 is formed with a relatively shorter arcuate slot or opening 84, and the bottom boss is formed with an opposed relatively longer arcuate slot or opening 85. The slot 85 is formed at its heading end with an inclined, non-radial edge 85a. Extending from wall 8! is an externally threaded stem 88 formed with an axial through opening 89. Rotatably mounted on the stem 88 and contacting said bosses, is a flat valve plate 99 having a central opening receiving the stem. The valve plate 90 is formed with a wing 91 contacting boss 83 and with an opposed wing 92 contacting boss 82. The wings 9|, 92 are adapted to close the openings 85 and 84, respectively. Wing 9| has a radial edge am at one end, and wing 92 has a radial edge 92a at an opposite edge. The valve plate is furthermore formed with a radial handle 94. Screwed onto the stem 88 is a wing nut 95 adapted to press against the valve plate against the bosses for closing the z-s crewed to the stem 88 is a stuffing gland 96 likewise formed with a central through opening. Extending through the through opening is a stirrer 98 provided with stirring blades 99 within the can. Integrally formed with plate portion I6 are oppositely extending radial bosses I00. The bosses I00 extend beyond the periphery of plate portion I6 and are adapted likewise to extend beyond the periphery of the can. Said bosses are formed with openings IOI parallel to the axis of the can. Extending through each opening IOI is a strap I03 having a screw threaded upper end. Screwed to each screw threaded portion of strap or rod I03 is a wing nut I04. At the lower end of each strap or rod I03 is a flattened inwardly turned hook I03a adapted to engage the bottom rim 12 of a can. By loosening the wing nuts I04, the straps may be reladed from the can so that the whole dispensing head may be removed from the can. Upon engaging the hooks I03 with the rim of the can and inserting the head into the open end of the can, the wing nuts I04 may be tightened to fix the dispensing head to the can. i

In Figs. 9 and there is shown a dispensing head 1Ia embodying a further modified construction to be used for larger cans such as gallon paint cans. The head Ila comprises a cylindrical portion H0 adapted to be received within the open end of the can. It is furthermore formed with a circular flat plate portion III contacting the outer surface of the can at its open end. Extending from plate portion III is a boss II2 formed with an axial through opening II3 through which the stirrer rod 30 passes. Extending from plate III is a hollow portion II4 ofiset from the boss II 2 and connected thereto. The hollow portion I I4 is formed with valve openings similar to openings 84, 85. Extending from the boss I I2 is a screw threaded stem II6 provided with a stufling box I I1. Extending from the outer wall II8 of the hollow portion H4 is a stem II9 externally screw threaded and receiving a wing nut I20. On said stem is a rotary valve plate I2I similar to the plate 90 for controlling the opening and closing of the arcuate slots 84, 85. Wall III is formed with oppositely disposed wings I25 formed with through openings to receive straps I 03 to engage the bottom rim of the can.

It will be noted that the dispensing head He differs from the dispensing head II in that in the former, the radial valve plate is offset from the axis while the stirrer 30 is at the axis. In the dispensing head 'I I, the rotary valve plate rotates about the axis of the stirrer.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

If desired the wing nut 95 of Figs. 7 and 8 may be replaced by a coil compression spring interposed between plate and member 96 to resiliently press said plate against bosses 82, '83.

Likewise in Figs. -9 and 10 the wing nut I 20 may be omitted and in its place asmall nut attached to the stem 1 I9 and a compression spring mounted on the stem between such nut and the valve plate. Aspring pressed valve plate as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing is similar to this construction.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A dispensing head for the open end of a can comprising a cylindrical flange adapted to be inserted into the open end of the can, said head having a fiat wall adapted to contact the outer surface of the open end of the can, and said head being formed with a wall having a pair of opposite arcuate slots, a screw threaded stem extending from said last-mentioned wall, a valve plate rotatably mounted on said stem, a nut on said screw threaded stem to press said valve plate against said last-mentioned wall, said valve plate having an outwardly extending handle and being formed with wings adapted to cover said slots, and said head being formed with integral wings adapted to extend beyond said can, said lastmentioned wing being formed with through openings, parallel rods extending through said openings, said rods having hooks to engage the bottom of the can, and nuts screwed on said rods and contacting said last-mentioned wings to take up said rods for fixing said head to a can.

2. A combination with a paint can comprising a cylindrical wall, a bottom wall at one end of the cylindrical wall, and forming a closure therefor, an annular flange at the opposite end of said cylindrical wall formed with an annular rim edgeand providing an opening for said opposite end of said can, a head for the open end of said can comprising an annular flange contacting the outer side of said rim edge and an annular tapered portion fitted into said rim edge and projecting through the open end of said can, said head beingformed with an axial boss having a through opening, a stirrer rotatably mounted within said through opening and projecting into said can, said head being formed with a paint outlet opening and an inlet opening, said openings being spaced from each other and spaced from said boss, a member mounted for rotation on said head about an axis laterally spaced from said boss, a handle on said member, and means controlled by said member for simultaneously covering and uncovering portions of said openings.

3. A combination with a paint can comprising a cylindrical wall, a bottom wall at one end of the cylindrical wall, and forming a closure therefor, an annular flange at the opposite end of said cylindrical wall formed with an annular rim edge and providing an opening for said opposite end of said can, a head for the open end of said can comprising an annular flange contacting the outer side of said rim edge and an annular tapered portion fitted into said rim edge and projecting through the open end of said can, said head being formed with an axial boss having a through opening, a stirrer rotatably mounted within said through opening and projecting into said can, said head being formed with a paint outlet opening and an inlet opening, said openings being spaced from each other and spaced from said boss, a member mounted for rotation on said head ab.out;an axis laterally spaced from said boss, a handle on said member, and means controlled by said member for simultaneously covering and uncovering portions of said openings, said head being formed with a pair of diametrical "oppositely extending ears projecting beyond said cylindrical wall, and means detachably engaging said ears and provided with means to engage beneath said bottom wall for clamping said head to said can.

NICHOLAS GRUBELIC.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 5

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Name Date Deitz Mar. 11, 1899 Deitz Feb. 22, 1910 Davis Jan. 9, 19-17 Bunnell 1 Dec. 3, 1918 OCallaghan Feb. 4, 1919 Steiner et a1 Feb. 11, 1919 Gove June 15, 1926 Grubelic July 25, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France Apr. 11, 1922 

